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When Manga Came to America: Super-Hero Revisionism in Mai, the Psychic Girl
The first manga widely available in English, MAI, THE PSYCHIC GIRL offered a near-perfect story for American readers: a realistic super-hero story, in line with revisionist American comics of the time (like WATCHMEN). In this short book, Dr. Julian Darius explores the comic, its depiction of super-powers, its relationship to revisionism, its depiction of female sexuality, and the various attempts to adapt the story as a motion picture.
From Sequart Organization. More info at http://sequart.org
From Sequart Organization. More info at http://sequart.org
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2014
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Julian Darius
125 books115 followersA creative writer and comics scholar, Dr. Julian Darius holds degrees in English (Ph.D., M.A.) and French (M.A.).
Darius founded Martian Lit, for which he writes several acclaimed comics titles, including Martian Comics, Necropolitan, Kimot Ren, Forever Man, and The Synthetics. He's also published a novel, some short stories, and a screenplay.
In 1996, while still an undergraduate, Darius founded what would become Sequart Organization, an organization devoted to promoting comic books and pop culture as a legitimate art form. He wrote copiously for Sequart’s website, has authored books on comics, and has produced documentary films for the organization.
He co-hosts the Stories out of Time and Space podcast with Scott Weatherly. It covers science-fiction movies and TV shows.
He currently lives in Illinois.
Darius founded Martian Lit, for which he writes several acclaimed comics titles, including Martian Comics, Necropolitan, Kimot Ren, Forever Man, and The Synthetics. He's also published a novel, some short stories, and a screenplay.
In 1996, while still an undergraduate, Darius founded what would become Sequart Organization, an organization devoted to promoting comic books and pop culture as a legitimate art form. He wrote copiously for Sequart’s website, has authored books on comics, and has produced documentary films for the organization.
He co-hosts the Stories out of Time and Space podcast with Scott Weatherly. It covers science-fiction movies and TV shows.
He currently lives in Illinois.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 14, 2023
A good enough book with a somewhat academic tone.
While I don't think it fair to rate a book based on what isn't there, I do wish this was the first chapter of a more inclusive exploration of the introduction of manga to America. I would love to read a book that includes Mai: The Psychic Girl - Perfect Collection, Volume 2, The Legend Of Kamui, Volume 1: Perfect Collection, Area 88, No. 1, Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 1: The Assassin's Road and Marvel's Akira, Vol. 1
While I don't think it fair to rate a book based on what isn't there, I do wish this was the first chapter of a more inclusive exploration of the introduction of manga to America. I would love to read a book that includes Mai: The Psychic Girl - Perfect Collection, Volume 2, The Legend Of Kamui, Volume 1: Perfect Collection, Area 88, No. 1, Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 1: The Assassin's Road and Marvel's Akira, Vol. 1
August 23, 2016
A very interesting book about the first manga widely available in the American market, the strange place it took among the 90s revisionist current, and the many ways it was far ahead of its time. As usual, Julian takes us towards an unknown path with his master prose, making even a complete ignorant in manga affairs as me, feel like an enlightened man at the end of the journey.
Recommended!
Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews